What is Starlink’s Data Cap? Starlink has recently developed a policy to deal with their wide array of users, which is why you might be asking, what is Starlink’s data cap?
This new thing has some of us scratching our heads, wondering what this means and if it means that our internet is not unlimited anymore and cuts after some time. Luckily, there is no risk of that happening, and you can still enjoy the net.
In this article, we will look at this policy, what it means, what the capping is like and many more. Let’s read on!
What is The Fair Use Policy?
Starlink has brought a fair use policy to manage the network traffic that they have. You must know Starlink has millions of users to provide internet, too, and not everyone can get quick connections all the time. This is why they made this policy: everyone has a fair chance at having high-speed data.
Starlink has a soft cap of 1 terabyte a month, which is more than enough for most households.
If you finish your TB of data, you are downgraded to the basic data, which allows you to surf the net but is not as fast as the priority access data.
If you want more of the fast data, you would have to buy a gigabyte of data, at $0.25.
So, Starlink has split their data into ranks, which depend on what speed of internet connection you have. For example, their mobile priority data is the best for emergencies if you’re stranded in a remote area or out at sea.
Then, there is the normal priority access data mentioned above. This is fast enough for smooth gaming and streaming. Rank 3 and 4 data are the most basic data types and are not very fast compared to the first two. It is for normal internet surfing and will probably give you trouble for streaming.
While it may be slow, Starlink still has better latency than most providers.
(slow internet)
Does Starlink Have a Data Cap?
There is no hard data cap from Starlink, which means they will not cut off your connection after you use a high amount of data. Your internet from Starlink is still unlimited; it is just throttled. This is how Starlink ensures that everyone gets a good amount of high-speed data. When necessary, the data is given to users who need it more and for important things, such as work.
When your internet lags towards the end of the month, it probably means that you have reached the limit of high-speed data, which puts you on basic data. It is enough for surfing the net and maybe watching one series, but it is not as fast as the high-speed Dara.
(router alert)
Below, we will break down each plan’s rule for the data and what happens in each one.
Starlink Mobile Plans
The internet throttling does not apply in these plans, except for the maritime one. The maritime plans and plans suited for those in remote places have to have quick data so they can contact someone if they are in trouble.
Generally, mobile plans have basic data. This is because other users with a fixed plan with Starlink are given preference over the ones who move around a lot.
Starlink Residential
You have a soft cap of a TB a month. This means you get one TB of quick data every month. If you finish this data, you are then using basic data, which is much slower. The fast internet is good to use during the 7 am to 11 pm peak hours.
When this amount of data is finished, and you would like to buy more, you have to pay $0.25 per GB. If you want to buy a TB of data, it is an extra $250 to your monthly fee for Starlink.
According to many experts, a household usually will not exceed the 1 TB limit, even with always streaming and gaming.
Starlink Business
There are not many details given by Starlink about the business plans. All we know is that you also get a TB of data every month, and then you get basic data afterward. You would have to pay $1 per GB of fast data.
(internet around the world)
Other Satellite Internet Services
As we know, Starlink is fast becoming the most popular internet service compared to others on the market. Hughesnet and Viasat have very hard caps on their data, which affects your internet connection quicker in the month. They also cap after a small amount of data, while Starlink caps you after 1 TB of Internet use.
While other providers also give you different ranks of data, it is still not as fast as Starliink’s data. Low speeds can cause buffering and lagging, which can get annoying, especially when gaming or watching your favorite series.
Is Starlink Faster Than HughesNet/Fiber?
HughesNet has fairly good upload and download speeds, but Starlink still has better speeds than that service. Users can attest to this, as Starlink fairs well in gaming and watching series.
Because the satellites are lower to the Earth, that is how STarlink can give you quick internet.
However, fiber is faster than any other internet service provider worldwide. It is quick, reliable, and secure, which protects your data and gives you the best results every time.
(local network)
Conclusion
It was only last year that Starlink brought around this soft cap of 1 TB, but it is quite manageable for many households and still is a better deal than other services.
If you are a business, you can also manage on the 1 TB cap, and there is an option to buy more high-speed data if you need to.